W. Gerard Oleksiak, PSEA Vice President

W. Gerard “Jerry” Oleksiak began a two-year elected term as PSEA Vice President on September 1, 2011. Previously, Jerry served as PSEA Treasurer, a member of the PSEA Board of Directors, and President of Mideastern Region of PSEA, which includes Bucks and Montgomery Counties. Jerry has been a classroom teacher for more than 35 years, spending most of that time as a special education teacher in the Upper Merion Area School District in King of Prussia, PA.

Jerry’s Association work is long and extensive. At the region level, in addition to serving as Region President, Jerry served in many capacities, including; Region Secretary, Vice President, and President Elect; Chair of the Coordinated Bargaining Committee; Region PACE Team; Council for the Advancement of Public Schools (CAPS) Workgroup; Chair of the region’s Public Education Celebration (2001-2004); Region representative to the Steering Committee for TOPS, Together Organized for Public Schools.

At the local level, Jerry served in a variety of positions for the Upper Merion Area Education Association, including Local Association President, Vice President, Negotiator, Grievance Committee, PACE chair, Public Relations Committee, Executive Committee, and as a Building Representative. At the Montgomery County Intermediate Education Association, Jerry served as Vice President. At the Bucks County Intermediate Unit Education Association, Jerry served as Crisis Committee Co-Chair and as a Building Representative.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Jerry graduated from Saint Joseph’s University (then called St. Joseph’s College) in 1974. He earned a Bachelor's degree in International Relations and earned his teaching certificate in social studies. Jerry earned a masters degree in education from Saint Joseph’s in 1985, and worked to earn his special education certification through LaSalle University. While working with the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit, he also earned certification as an intermediate unit program specialist.

Jerry has been married for more than 37 years to his wife Dina, a family nurse practitioner who is the Director of Student Health at LaSalle University in Philadelphia. Dina and Jerry live in Glenside, Abington Township, in Montgomery County, and have three daughters: Sarah Barnes, Laura, and Kathryn, all of whom attended Abington public schools and have earned their college diplomas.

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